Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 19:39:45 -0400 From: PaulKB8N@aol.com To: cq.a-contest@tgv.com Subject: RF Analyst I just received the Autek RF Analyst and have found it to be an extraordinarily useful and flexible instrument. I use all wire antennas with tuned feeders and could never fully understand why two identical perpendicular dipoles seemed to be so different in performance. The Analyst indicated that the better of the two had a termination impedance of approximately 200 ohms, while the worse of the two had an impedance of approximately 900 ohms. Obviously, my 4:1 balun liked the 200 ohm impedance more, and it was clearly reflected in signal reports. The addition of 12 feet of feedline to the second antenna brought the impedance down to a manageable and efficient 200 ohms. I have used the instrument for tuning my antennas before applying power from the transceiver. In every case, the SWR measurement was "dead on". I eventually plan to remote my antenna tuners into a weather-proof box in the yard and the Analyst will be invaluable in getting my antennas tuned without having to run back and forth to the shack. Complaints? I wish the software set would "memorize" the last frequency used so you could easily flip back and forth between bands. Better yet, five or six discrete memories would be just great for tuning multiband antennas. The small frequency controls are pretty hard to tune. I am in no way associated with Autek, just an "antenna nut" who has found a product that helps me self-actualize. 73, Paul KB8N